As the Forum drew to a close, the most noticeable shift was not in ambition, but in tone.
There was broad recognition that autonomous operations are an incremental outcome rather than a discrete milestone. Most organizations are still working through foundational constraints, including execution variability, uneven data quality, and loosely connected systems.
In closing conversations, leaders emphasized sequencing over speed. Questions focused on what needs to be stabilized first, where automation adds value today, and where human oversight should remain intentional rather than incidental.
One comment heard late in the week captured the sentiment well: “We don’t need fewer people involved. We need fewer surprises.”
That perspective reflects a move away from assumption-driven roadmaps toward operational realism. Leaders were less interested in bold claims and more focused on reducing sources of instability within their own environments.
Leaving the event, there was less confidence in quick transitions and more clarity about where sustained attention is required next.